"Profemur Artificial Hips Fail, Snapping in Half, Disappointing Patients"
Hundreds of patients who received Profemur artificial hips, which were once considered innovative for their dual modular necks, have experienced fractures at the neck, leaving them unable to walk and in need of emergency surgery. Reports submitted to the FDA describe patients suffering fractures while engaging in routine activities. Many of these fractures could have been avoided if the manufacturer or the FDA had responded to early signs of failure with more urgency. The manufacturer, Wright Medical Technology, switched the metal of the modular neck from titanium to a cobalt-chromium alloy, but this led to new complications, including corrosion and the release of metal ions into patients' bloodstream. Lawsuits have been filed against the company, which has settled many of them without admitting fault.